Red Flag Warning Issued for Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas Through Thursday Night

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Tulsa has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of northeast Oklahoma and far northwest Arkansas. This alert indicates that a dangerous combination of weather conditions and dry vegetation is expected, which favors the rapid growth and spread of wildfires. This warning replaces the previously issued Fire Weather Watch.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following geographic regions:

• Northeast Oklahoma: Osage, Washington, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Pawnee, Tulsa, Rogers, Mayes, Delaware, Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Wagoner, Cherokee, Adair, Muskogee, and McIntosh counties.
• Northwest Arkansas: Benton, Carroll, Washington, and Madison counties.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are strongly advised to avoid all outdoor burning. Any fires that develop under these conditions will likely spread rapidly and become difficult to control. Local officials recommend preparing for potential fire hazards and monitoring local weather updates throughout the day.

Expected Conditions

Forecasters describe the upcoming environment as very dry and windy, characterized by the following factors:

• Wind: West to west-northwest winds at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 35 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels will drop to between 10 and 20 percent.
• Temperature: Highs are expected to reach the upper 60s to lower 70s.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM CST on Thursday, February 19, 2026.